Anime Review: Umineko no Naku Koro ni

Animation Production: Studio DEEN | Director: Chiaki Kon | Original Creator: Ryukishi07

Umineko no Naku Koro ni takes place in the year 1986, during the time frame of October 4 and October 5 on a secluded island named Rokkenjima. The head of a wealthy family named Kinzo Ushiromiya, who lives on and owns Rokkenjima, is near death, and eight of his family members arrive on the island to discuss how Kinzo's assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo's servants, and his personal physician. After the eight family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island and shortly after people start to get mysteriously murdered.

[OVERALL IMPRESSION]

If you are dreaming to become a detective or you are someone who have a very high logic skills, then this anime series is intended only for you.

I did enjoy watching this series. I haven't read the visual novel yet (but I will in the oh so near FUTURE) but the series is good enough for me. My only disappointment is the final riddle towards the end of the series that got my mind turning upside down once again. Due to my extreme attachment to the riddle, the riddle goes:

''Battler Ushiromiya''

''Right now, on this island, no one exists except for you''

''You are the only one alive on this island''

''However, i'm here right now and i'm about to kill you''

''Who am I?''

If I try to think about this, I am thinking of various interpretations and so I really wish that someone can provide an answer to the riddle.

Anyway, I got a bit grossed after watching the first few episodes but what kept me watching is because I want to know the answers to the riddles. As I watch, I believe that a logical explanation exists in all the things that happened in all the rounds of the game and since the answer is not revealed, I can speculate as much as I want about what is really going on. The bad thing is, no one can confirm if my speculation is right or wrong.

I have mentioned that Umineko is based on a visual novel and so to those who have read it and has followed it closely would tell you that the anime missed some points that are important in the story line. Some red truths were missed and some were not considered as red truths at all. But I think for non visual novel readers like me, Umineko is good enough for an adaptation. What I do to compensate the missing parts is to also check out spoilers from the visual novel so that I can get a clear picture of what is happening.

In the end, I believe that the end goal of Umineko is to increase the deduction skills of its viewers, basing from the way the anime ended. The mention of Person X and Trap X gives me a feeling that this is just a case or a scenario that if Shinichi is there, all crimes will be solved in an instant. Good thing Shinichi is not there or elese, Beatrice is long gone denied as a witch.